Research Forum: Detecting Cross-Linguistic Difficulties in Learning English: Using a Text Reconstruction Program

This article examines cross-linguistic difficulties in learning English in a group of
Cantonese-speaking students in Hong Kong. It also discusses the usefulness of
a text reconc;truction program in detecting linguistic difficulties in second language
students learning English. A cross-national study involving the comparison of
performance between first language English speaking (Ll) secondary students
in England and second language English speaking (12) secondary students in
Hong Kong on a text reconstruction task is described. Results showed that the
performance of the L2 students was adversely affected by cross-linguistic
differences between English and Cantonese. The potentials of using the text
reconstruction task in teaching English as a second language are also explored.